Shirk's signs draw second complaint

The Nevada Secretary of State is reviewing a second complaint against the campaign signs of Jim Shirk, a candidate for Carson City mayor.

Shirk should have known his signs imply that he is an incumbent when he is not, according to Ande Engleman, who said she filed the complaint June 30.

"If they can't follow the campaign laws," said Engleman, who has contributed to mayoral candidate Bob Crowell's campaign, "what are they going to do when they're in office?"

Shirk's signs say "Mayor Jim Shirk" and, in smaller letters, "you win with Jim."

But Shirk, a real estate agent, said he took down all the signs he could Thursday night after he learned that Alan Glover, who is in charge of Carson City elections, thought his signs was illegal.

It is the "best and right thing to do" now, Shirk said, but he is waiting to hear exactly what to do from the secretary of state's office.

It is illegal under Nevada law for candidates to imply they are incumbents. Challengers should use words such as "for" or "elect" to show they are running for office, the law says.

There are six candidates for Carson City mayor " Shirk, Crowell, Ken Haskins, Pete Hansell, Sean Lehmann and Steve McClung. Mayor Marv Teixeira is not running for a fourth four-year term.

The primary election is Aug. 12 and the general election is Nov. 4.

On Friday, McClung filed the first complaint against Shirk as well as against Lehmann's signs.

Lehmann's signs say "Lehmann Mayor" inside a large box and, outside the box in smaller letters, say "vote August 12th."

Lehmann has said his signs are legal.

Matt Griffin, who works in the elections division of the secretary of state's office, said he expects to have a decision on the signs this week.

He could tell the candidates to amend the sings, rule the signs are legal or take the candidates to court for an order on the signs.

Lehmann's signs are "in a gray area," Engleman said, and not as obviously illegal as Shirk's, but all candidates would know what is clearly illegal if they review campaign laws.

"It's like they didn't even read it," she said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.